NCIX Data Breach, Floatplane & Future of VR Tech

The NCIX Data Breach and Security

Negligence and Consequences

• The discussion centers on the massive NCIX data breach that occurred following the company's bankruptcy. The speakers highlight that servers containing sensitive customer information—including credit card details, addresses, and Social Insurance Numbers—were auctioned off without being properly wiped.

  "I have tried nothing and I am all out of ideas."

• It is noted that the class-action lawsuit against the bankruptcy trustee failed, primarily because the claim was deemed to be based on unreliable evidence rather than proven facts. There is deep frustration over the lack of accountability and the dangerous precedent it sets for data handling by failed companies.

Floatplane and Industry Challenges

Diversifying Revenue

• Linus and Luke discuss the importance of diversifying income streams for creators. They explain that Floatplane was designed to provide a more sustainable, independent alternative to reliance on major platforms like YouTube or payment processors like Patreon, which have been forced into the role of "moral police" by financial institutions.
• New features like RTMP streaming support are being tested, allowing creators to stream to multiple platforms simultaneously through Floatplane’s backend, reducing technical burdens for smaller creators.

Future of VR and Tech Trends

VR vs. AR Reality

• The hosts analyze the state of Virtual Reality, noting that while it has a dedicated community, it failed to reach mass-market "boom" status as predicted. They posit that Augmented Reality (AR) will eventually become the more ubiquitous, "cell-phone-level" technology, while VR will serve a niche need for complete escapism and deep focus.
• Other tech topics include Google’s Project Soli (radar-based gesture control) and the upcoming LTX 2019 event, which aims to improve upon previous iterations with more focused activities, better booth management, and a stronger emphasis on tech and hardware enthusiasts.